Catherine Murphy
Question:1146. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding his Department has provided the horse racing industry with in 2022 and to date in 2023. [17831/23]
View answerHorse Racing Industry
Questions (1146)
Written answers
Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001 is a commercial State Body responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry.
The horse and greyhound racing industries receive financial support from the State through the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund (the Fund) as provided for under Section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001.
My Department makes payments from the Fund to HRI and to Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ). This is distributed in accordance with Section 12(6) of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, with 80% allocated to HRI and 20% to RCÉ.
The information the Deputy has requested is detailed below.
Contribution to Horse Racing Ireland from the Horse and Greyhound Fund
|
Year |
HRI Allocation |
HRI Funding |
|
2022 |
€70.4m |
€70.4m |
|
2023 |
€72.8m |
€23.2m (to date) |
Animal Diseases
Questions (1147)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:1147. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will examine a series of matters (details supplied) in relation to BVD reactors in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17844/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Deputy will be aware that the BVD eradication programme is an industry-led programme managed by Animal Health Ireland (AHI) under the guidance of a stakeholder Implementation Group.
I am aware of reports of recent cases in Limerick and Kerry and advise that these are BVD test positive cases and not reactors.
My Department provides a variety of extensive supports to the programme. Among these are financial supports to farmers in respect of BVD positive animals - as follows:
Dairy
€160 if the dairy female or dairy cross animal is removed within 10 days of positive or inconclusive BVD test. €30 if the dairy female or dairy cross animal is removed between day 11 and 21 of the first positive or inconclusive BVD test €30 if the dairy bull is removed within 14 days of the positive or inconclusive BVD test.
Beef
€ 220 if the animal is removed within 10 days of the first positive or inconclusive test. € 30 if the animal is removed between Day 11 & 21 of the first positive or inconclusive test.
Further financial support may also be available for severely affected farms,
The table below shows the counts of animals that had a BVD positive test result in Limerick and Kerry over the last 6-12 months.
|
Period |
Date |
Kerry |
Limerick |
Total |
|
6 months |
12/10/2022 to 11/04/2023 |
157 |
53 |
210 |
|
12 months |
12/04/2022 to 11/04/2023 |
228 |
87 |
315 |
The Deputy will be aware that the primary screening test is based on ear notch testing of all newly born calves.
The three week period is important and the rationale behind it is to allow transient infection to be resolved in the herd. This is in accordance with best evidence.
Animal Welfare
Questions (1148)
Michael Fitzmaurice
Question:1148. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions being taken in seeking a resolution to allow the importing of a vaccine (details supplied) which cannot be bought in Ireland but is readily available in the UK and due to Brexit it is no longer available in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17849/23]
View answerWritten answers
Due to the unavailability of the Irish authorised product Scabivax, an alternative product, Scabigard, has been licensed for import and use in Ireland through the Department’s Special Import Licensing (SIL) protocol in the last number of years.
Currently shortages of this product are being experienced in the UK. This in turn has impacted supply to the Irish market.
The manufacturing company of Scabigard have advised Department officials that they hope to replenish the supply to the UK market, which in turn will provide the necessary supplies to the Irish market by the middle of May. In the interim every effort is being made to source an alternative product and to have supply chains operational to meet the current demand.
Fishing Industry
Questions (1149)
Niall Collins
Question:1149. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on issues raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17855/23]
View answerWritten answers
Management arrangements for the State’s fisheries, including the Mackerel fishery, have been set and developed over many years since the commencement of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the introduction of quotas. Pelagic stocks such as Mackerel are managed on an annual or seasonal basis with catch limits set based on allocation regimes developed over many years and related to historical catch records. Amendments to the mackerel policy in 2010 and 2017 were introduced following a full review and public consultation. It should be noted that the 2017 policy is subject to a legal challenge in the Courts.
In order to amend Mackerel Policy, I as Minister must be satisfied that there is satisfactory evidence of changed circumstances to justify a policy review. If I consider there is a case for review of any aspect of the policy, it would require due process, involving an assessment of all issues arising, including a full public consultation.
There has been, for the past 20 years or so, intensive competition within the industry for a higher share of the mackerel quota. The EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) provides for the transfer of 26% of Ireland’s mackerel quota to the UK by 2026. This will only increase demands for a higher share of Ireland’s Mackerel quota from all sectors within the fishing fleet.
Unfortunately, the situation is that if there is an increase in the Mackerel quota for any sector in the allocation made available, it must be taken from others who are already facing significant cuts under the TCA.
There is currently no agreement within the fisheries sector for change from the current approach.
Fishing Industry
Questions (1150)
Pádraig MacLochlainn
Question:1150. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline his response to the correspondence that he has received from two organisations (details supplied) seeking a review of the national hook and line mackerel policy and a substantial increase in mackerel quota to be allocated to the inshore fishing fleet. [17933/23]
View answerWritten answers
Management arrangements for the State’s fisheries, including the Mackerel fishery, have been set and developed over many years since the commencement of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the introduction of quotas. Pelagic stocks such as Mackerel are managed on an annual or seasonal basis with catch limits set based on allocation regimes developed over many years and related to historical catch records. Amendments to the mackerel policy in 2010 and 2017 were introduced following a full review and public consultation. It should be noted that the 2017 policy is subject to a legal challenge in the Courts.
In order to amend Mackerel Policy, I as Minister must be satisfied that there is satisfactory evidence of changed circumstances to justify a policy review. If I consider there is a case for review of any aspect of the policy, it would require due process, involving an assessment of all issues arising, including a full public consultation.
There has been, for the past 20 years or so, intensive competition within the industry for a higher share of the mackerel quota. The EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) provides for the transfer of 26% of Ireland’s mackerel quota to the UK by 2026. This will only increase demands for a higher share of Ireland’s Mackerel quota from all sectors within the fishing fleet.
Unfortunately, the situation is that if there is an increase in the Mackerel quota for any sector in the allocation made available, it must be taken from others who are already facing significant cuts under the TCA.
There is currently no agreement within the fisheries sector for change from the current approach.
Agriculture Supports
Questions (1151)
Niall Collins
Question:1151. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the measures under Budget 2023 to address the group of farmers known as "forgotten farmers" will be implemented; if the farmers affected were consulted in the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18030/23]
View answerWritten answers
I am committed to supporting the cohort of farmers known as the forgotten farmers. Many of these farmers have found themselves in this situation through no fault of their own.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has developed a preliminary outline of a proposal to provide support to the group of farmers commonly referred to as forgotten farmers. My Department is continuing to work on addressing a number of issues before the details of the eligibility requirements and benefits to successful applicants under a scheme can be finalised.
My Department has received representations from Public Representatives, farming bodies and from individual prospective applicants with regard to the forgotten farmer issue.
I want to step out this support for the forgotten farmers as quickly as possible as I have committed to supporting these farmers and I will honour that commitment.
Forestry Sector
Questions (1152)
Ivana Bacik
Question:1152. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on Coillte's examination of how better to work closely with farmers and to acquire land directly. [18087/23]
View answerWritten answers
Under its new forestry strategic vision, Coillte has stated its aim to grow 100,000 hectares of new forests by 2050. While operational matters, including the acquisition of land, are the responsibility of the company, this vision will be key in supporting the delivery of one-third of Ireland’s afforestation target and providing a carbon sink of 18 million tonnes of CO2.
As you will be aware, under the new €1.3 billion Forestry Programme, premiums to farmers have been increased by between 46% and 66% over 20 years, while the afforested land will continue to qualify for the Basic Income Support Payment, so the Programme is very much orientated towards encouraging farmers to plant their own land.
We have asked Coillte to reflect on how specifically it can work more closely with the farmers and local communities to encourage a greater level of afforestation. Coillte is assessing what appropriate measures can be taken in this regard, that are complementary to the new forestry programme and the national forestry strategy.
For Coillte to create new forests directly, it needs additional land. My Department is working with Coillte to consider how this might be achieved having regard for funding and other issues.
Citizens' Assembly
Questions (1153, 1154)
Ivana Bacik
Question:1153. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will make a statement on recommendation No. 120 of the Report of the Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity Loss; his plans to give effect to the recommendation; and if he has made representations to Coillte in respect of the sale of forestry land to investment funds. [18088/23]
View answerIvana Bacik
Question:1154. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will make a statement on recommendation No. 122 of the Report of the Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity Loss; and his plans to give effect to the recommendation. [18089/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1153 and 1154 together.
I note the report of the Citizen’s Assembly on Biodiversity Loss published on 5th April last and in particular, the recommendations in relation to Forestry.
I commend the members of the Assembly on its work.
In relation to recommendations 120, the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies requires that Government Departments should ensure that they have written oversight agreements with State bodies under their aegis which clearly define the terms of the State body’s relationship with the relevant Minister/parent Department. For commercial State bodies the oversight agreement between the relevant Minister/parent Department and the State body is the Shareholder Expectation Letter.
A Shareholder letter of Expectation issued to Coillte on 2nd June 2022. It is published on my Department's website and available at the following link gov.ie - Forestry policy and strategy (www.gov.ie). This letter clearly outlines my Department's requirements from Coillte in relation to environmental and social policies. In relation to biodiversity the letter sets out the following: “In addition to the extensive carbon capture that will result from the creation of new forests and the management of Coillte’s existing forests, Coillte should continue with its long-term commitment to biodiversity and to the planned increase in the area of its forest estate being managed primarily for nature.”
In relation to the part of your question regarding the sale of forestry land by Coillte to investment funds, as I have stated previously in relation to Coillte’s involvement with the Irish Strategic Forestry Fund (ISFF), Coillte will not sell any existing publicly owned forests to the fund, nor will Coillte seek to purchase any other public land on behalf of the fund. Coillte is not currently an investor in the fund but is providing services in terms of land acquisition, forestry establishment and advice on forestry investment to the Irish Strategic Forestry Fund as one of a number of models it intends to deploy in order to enable afforestation at a meaningful scale.
As regards recommendation 122 comprehensive public and stakeholder consultation has taken place over the past year on the development of a national Forest Strategy, which resulted in the publication of a Shared National Vision for the role of trees and forests in Ireland , together with a new draft Strategy which sets out a clear set of objectives for the role of trees and forests in Ireland between now and 2030.
The draft Forest Strategy was published on the 18 October 2022 for a six-week period of public consultation. Forestry stakeholders and the public were encouraged to take part in this significant consultation process and over 130 submissions were received. The feedback and engagement is being considered and the draft strategy is currently being finalised. The Strategy’s overarching objectives are rooted in the three pillars of sustainability - People, Planet and Prosperity.
The Forestry Programme 2023-2027, which replaces the previous Forestry Programme of 2014-2020 (extended to 2022), was created in alignment with Ireland’s new draft Forest Strategy and as such, is designed to provide lasting benefits for many key areas including climate change, biodiversity, wood production, employment alongside enhancing societal benefits.
The Government has committed €1.3 billion to the Programme, making it the largest funded Forestry Programme ever introduced by any Government here, and it has been designed to have an emphasis on close to nature forestry and will include a small-scale native woodland scheme and a greater emphasis on new planting comprising of native species.
All afforestation and felling activities require a licence from my Department and each application is screened for appropriate assessment under Article 6.3 of the Habitats Directive. If screened in, a 30 day period of public consultation is required following completion and publication of the Appropriate Assessment Report. When this consultation period closes and my Department has considered any submissions received a decision on the application made.
The Forestry Programme 2023-2027 will form part of the Forest Strategy Implementation Plan which will be monitored to ensure delivery in accordance with the objectives of the Forest Strategy.
My Department will consider the recommendations from the Report further and looks forward to participating in any future implementation process.
Question No. 1154 answered with Question No. 1153.
Coillte Teoranta
Questions (1155)
Niamh Smyth
Question:1155. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason Coillte (details supplied) relinquished its leasehold interest to lands at Bellamont forest Cootehill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18122/23]
View answerWritten answers
Coillte is a private limited company established under the Forestry Act 1988 and is operationally independent from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I have referred the matter to Coillte for direct follow-up with the Deputy.
Agriculture Industry
Questions (1156)
Jim O'Callaghan
Question:1156. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps his Department is taking doing to support the Irish sheep sector. [18161/23]
View answerWritten answers
I regard a viable sheep sector as an integral element of a balanced regional economy and I know that sheep farmers are committed to producing a world-class, safe and sustainable product.
Although there has been a sustained increase in average sheep prices since the end of February, I recognise that sheep farmers are experiencing more difficult market conditions in 2023 compared to recent years. Market prices, however, are a commercial matter to be bargained between suppliers and buyers and Government has no role in determining commodity prices in the sheep sector
To bolster producer sustainability and viability, my Department provides significant support to the sector under the new CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), both through a new targeted scheme for sheep farmers - the Sheep Improvement Scheme - and through the broad range of schemes in the CSP.
The new Sheep Improvement Scheme has over 19,000 applications submitted. The scheme replaces the previous Sheep Welfare Scheme but shares the same aim of improving animal health and welfare in the sector, with a 20% increase in the ewe payment rate - from €10 to €12 - compared to the previous scheme.
The CSP provides almost €10 billion in supports over the period to 2027 for farm families. Sheep farmers are eligible for several other schemes in addition to Sheep Improvement Scheme, including the ACRES and Organics schemes, which are particularly suited to sheep enterprises or mixed beef and sheep enterprises and which will provide significantly increased payments to participants in those schemes.
I have secured places for all 46,000 farmers in ACRES which I am certain will benefit many sheep farmers.
Furthermore, support for early-stage producer organisations, which will be introduced later this year, will strengthen the position of sheep farmers in the supply chain.
Additionally, I have introduced a range of supports for livestock farmers:
- a €56 million fodder initiative;
- an innovative €8 million national liming programme; and
- grant aid for sowing multi-species sward and red clover to help reduce reliance on chemical fertilisers.
While market returns have reduced from the record prices of recent years due to increased input costs, Teagasc forecasts suggest that family farm income for specialised sheep farms in 2023 will be 2% down on 2022, due to the important role which direct payments play in contributing to sheep farm incomes and mitigating market volatility.
With regard to the challenges facing the sector, I have requested my officials to closely monitor market trends over the coming months and the Government will continue to make every effort to support the sector.
Brexit Supports
Questions (1157)
Thomas Pringle
Question:1157. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to the fishing sector, how the Brexit Adjustment Reserve is being delivered; the amount that has been allocated to each sector of the fleet; if there will be further allocations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18246/23]
View answerWritten answers
In 2021, I established the Seafood Task Force to examine the implications of Brexit and the Trade and Cooperation agreement for the seafood sector and coastal communities. The Task Force included representation from across the fishing and seafood sector. In its report of October 2021, the Task Force made a series of recommendations which formed the basis of schemes. Due to the number of recommendations, the Task Force acknowledged that these could only be actioned on a phased and prioritised basis.
To date I have announced €267.8 million in development strategies and supports, all of which are proposed for funding under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR). These are presented in tabular form below. In some cases, the recommendations and the schemes which followed targeted broad segments of the fleet and eligibility criteria for applicants varied from scheme to scheme. For example Tie-up and permanent cessations schemes were broadly developed for the whitefish fleet, while the Business Model Adjustment Scheme was aimed at supporting eligible beneficiaries in the inshore sector. The more recently announced Off-Register Capacity Scheme is open to eligible beneficiaries from both of these broad groups.
However, the majority of schemes announced are aimed at the support and development of the seafood sector as a whole and take a more holistic view, recognising the interdependency between different elements of the supply chain.
The remaining recommendations which are proposed for funding under BAR are currently being examined in the context of State Aid guidelines and relevant regulation to ensure relevant supports are developed for various segments of the fleet and the wider seafood sector.
|
Announced Brexit Adjustment Reserve Schemes |
Scheme Budget |
|
Temporary Tie-Up 2021 (recommended by the interim report) |
€10m |
|
Inshore Fisheries Business Model Adjustment Scheme |
€3.7m |
|
Temporary Tie-Up 2022 Scheme |
€24m |
|
Brexit Co-operative Transition Scheme |
€1m |
|
Inshore Marketing Scheme |
€1m |
|
Brexit Adjustment Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme |
€55.3m |
|
Blue Economy Enterprise Development Scheme |
€25m |
|
Seafood Capital Processing Support Scheme |
€45m |
|
Brexit Sustainable Aquaculture Growth Scheme |
€20m |
|
Brexit Voluntary Decommissioning Scheme |
€80m |
|
Off-Register Capacity Buy-Out Scheme |
€2.8m |
|
Total of Seafood Taskforce Scheme announcements to date |
€267.8m |
Forestry Sector
Questions (1158)
Seán Sherlock
Question:1158. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will detail the actual expenditure by the Forest Service of his Department from 1 January 2023 to date; if he will detail the corresponding expenditure by the Forest Service of his Department for each of the years of the forestry programme 2014 to 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16342/23]
View answerWritten answers
The forestry expenditure for the first quarter in each of the years from 2014 is shown in the table below.
Forestry Expenditure 2014-2023 Quarter 1
|
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
41,658,489 |
43,928,764 |
42,402,772 |
44,255,403 |
44,003,982 |
43,230,193 |
53,533,567 |
46,957,119 |
44,258,215 |
42,728,570 |
To 31st March 2023 there has been a total spend of €42,728,570. The 2023 expenditure represents an increase in spend for support schemes and reduced payments for new planting while we await state aid approval for the new forestry programme.
However, this planting figure does not include any expenditure under the Interim de minimis schemes. The portal to enable the submission of applications for payment opened on Wednesday 29th March and the first payments were processed in the week ending April 6th. To date a total of 243 applications have been approved under the interim Afforestation scheme (via general de minimis) representing 1,514 hectares. We have received completion notices for 86 of these contracts representing 467 hectares and payment applications for 190 hectares of this were received in the first few days after the opening of the payment portal.
Under the interim roads scheme 60 approvals have issued representing 23,349 metres.
I expect a significant increase in new planting payments and roads expenditure in the second quarter of this year.
Forestry Sector
Questions (1159)
Colm Burke
Question:1159. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to clarify what percentage of all timber cut in Ireland is being exported for the production of biomass; if he will advise what countries it is exported to for this purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16492/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine licences the felling of roundwood and the markets decide on the ultimate destination of material. The Central Statistics Office collates information on wood exports and imports and the latest figures available for 2021 estimate that 12,029 cubic metres were exported described as "wood fuel". A further 77,732 cubic metres were exported described as "other biomass". There are no figures available for 2022.
The CSO define the "wood fuel" category as wood harvested from the main stems, branches and other parts of trees where these are harvested for fuel and wood that will be used for the production of charcoal, wood pellets and other agglomerates. It also includes wood chips to be used for fuel that were made in the forest from roundwood. It excludes wood charcoal, wood pellets and other agglomerates.
The CSO defines "other biomass" as a combination of the categories for Wood chips, particles and residues and Wood pellets and other agglomerates. It corresponds to the volume of roundwood that is left over after the production of forest products in the wood processing industry. It includes wood chips produced directly from roundwood in chipping mills. It includes wood waste and scrap not useable as timber such as sawmill rejects, slabs, edgings and trimmings, veneer log cores, veneer rejects, sawdust, residues from carpentry and joinery production, and wood residues that will be used for production of pellets, other agglomerated products or used for energy. It excludes wood chips made directly in the forest from roundwood.
The CSO also reports that the total harvest of wood removals in Ireland in 2021 amounted to 4.33 million cubic metres. Therefore based on the size of the total harvested production from Irish forest the percentage exported for biomass and wood fuel is relatively small at around approximately two percent. The CSO do not report on the country of destination in their forest removal surveys but exports are mainly to the United Kingdom.
Land Issues
Questions (1160)
Jackie Cahill
Question:1160. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of designated land that there is an entitlement attached to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16545/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and specifically the Site Designation Unit within National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) are responsible for site designation and notification to the relevant stakeholders in terms of Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Areas (SPA) and Natural Heritage Areas (NHA).
There is no attachment between Payment Entitlements and any specific land parcel or land type, whether designated or not. However each Payment Entitlement must be supported by one hectare of eligible land for activation in any given scheme year.
Payment Entitlements may also be transferred between farmers through sale and short or longer term leasing to assist farmers by giving the flexibility to organise their farming business in the way that suits them best.
A significant proportion of farmers use this option in each scheme year. Due to these factors, it is not possible to give a valid assessment between the amount of designated land and Payment Entitlements held by farmers.